U.S. stock markets will observe Presidents' Day on Monday, February 16, 2026, with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ both remaining closed for trading. The holiday falls on the third Monday of February, consistent with the annual market calendar that has been in place for decades.

Market Context

The Presidents' Day closure represents one of nine annual market holidays recognized by the NYSE and NASDAQ. This year's trading calendar shows the markets will be open for 252 regular trading days, down from 253 in 2025 due to the calendar shift. The holiday falls during a traditionally lighter trading period following the January earnings season kickoff.

Analysis

Institutional traders and market participants should note that while equity markets are closed, futures trading on CME Group products will operate with modified hours. Equity index futures (ES, NQ, YM) will trade during regular sessions, though volume typically diminishes significantly without the cash market anchor. Bond markets, including the Treasury market, will also be closed for the federal holiday.

The closure comes at a strategic point in the quarter, with many portfolio rebalancing activities typically occurring around this period. Money market funds will not price, affecting institutional cash allocation decisions that often precede the three-day weekend.

Key Numbers

- NYSE and NASDAQ regular trading days in 2026: 252

- Presidents' Day date in 2026: February 16, Monday

- CME equity index futures: Modified trading hours (reduced volume expected)

- Federal Reserve banks: Closed for business

- Treasury market: No trading on Monday

What to Watch

Traders returning from the long weekend will face several key catalysts in the following week, including the release of February manufacturing PMI data and the start of the Federal Reserve's January meeting minutes. Markets will resume normal trading hours on Tuesday, February 17, with pre-market activity beginning at 4:00 a.m. ET.

Those managing positions across the three-day closure should monitor any after-hours developments from Asian markets, particularly given ongoing tariff discussions and their potential impact on global supply chains. The March FOMC meeting looms as the next major monetary policy event, approximately five weeks away.